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The mansion was suddenly alive with chaos. The sharp sound of gunshots echoed. Derek grabbed Gemma’s arm and pulled her deeper into the walk-in closet, shutting the door and grabbing his gun from a hidden compartment in the corner.“Derek!” Gemma yelled out, trying to push the door open and rush out.“Stay in there, Gemma. Do not come out until everything dies down,” Derek ordered her for the first time, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument.Gemma’s heart pounded as he stepped out, locking eyes with her one last time before closing the closet door.The sound of Derek’s footsteps faded into the background of muffled voices and the relentless pounding of her own heartbeat. The entire place was completely quiet for a few seconds, adding to Gemma’s fear. But then all hell broke loose once again. The unmistakable clash of bodies followed by the deafening discharge of another gunshot filled the air. Gemma pressed her hands to her ears, trembling. A loud thud reverberated through the
“I think Elena is awake,” Gemma mumbled, showing Derek the caller ID.Derek sighed. He wasn't going to let Gemma step foot out of the house, at least not today.“Let me have the phone, Gemma,” he muttered.Before Gemma could find time to react, he took the phone from her and hung up the call, then proceeded to turn off the phone.“What are you doing?” Gemma was surprised by his actions.“I can't let you go out. At least not today. I need to know what else that darn brother of yours is up to. Until I'm able to figure that out, you'll remain in here!” Derek declared, his eyes never left Gemma as he made these declarations.“Derek…” Gemma tried go argue but he cut her off.“Please, sweetheart,” he held her shoulders and stared right into her eyes“I already lost you once. I can't lose you again. Heavens gave us a second chance to be together. We can't ruin it. We can't mess it up. We have to be together for as long as we can. Just listen to me, please my love. I promise once all this is
Back at the hospital, Elena sat staring at her phone. She had just called Gemma but then it was as if Gemma didn’t want yo speak with her. Gemma had hung up and now her number isn't reachable. Which only meant one thing, Gemma had turned off her phone to avoid speaking to her.“So much for wanting to be at peace with me,” she mumbled.Seated right beside the bed, Sylvia couldn't help but glare at Elena. Her entire Praters had been for the girl to just die but that didn't happen. Now, she was stuck here, having yo look after her to protect her family.“Mother, Did Gemma say anythinhg while I was unconscious?” She turned in Sylvia's direction.“No, I made her leave. That girl is absolutely horrible. Stay away from her. She means no good…”“Mother,” Elena tried to cut her off, but Sylvia wouldn't let her say a word.“Forget all about the reconciliation and sisters nonsense she talked about. You two can never get along. You’re kind and worlds above her while she is merely beneath your toe
“Derek, about the guy you took hostage yesterday,” Gemma tried starting up a conversation with Derek.It was already morning but the events of the previous day was still fresh on her mind.Her words made Derek look at her.“You already know James sent him. Why else are you still keeping him here. You can hand him over to the police and get James too,” Gemma complained, staring at him.“We already spoke about this, Gemma. The police won't be able to do a thing…at least not now,” Derek shrugged.“What do you mean?”“You think a guy like this will easily give out James’ name? You're smarter than this, sweetheart…Just let me handle it my own way,” Derek said, gently patting her hair.“But…” Gemma tried to counter.“Just forget it, Gemma. Besides, James shouldn't just be punished. I just don't want him to end up arrested by the police and then he goes to jail and sort…where he might likely get parole or even escape. I want him gone forever. I want him gone from the surface of this earth.”G
Leaving the bed was like a chore to Gemma. All she wanted was to lay back there and have a well deserved rest. Her life has been on a roller coaster these past few weeks and to top it all, she was going back to work in just two days. She was going to face her crazy father. “Oh, lord,” she could only mumble. She could feel her head begin to ache, making her sigh.“What's wrong?” Derek asked, approaching her.Gemma shook her head.“Nothing, I'm just tired,” she told him.“You know you don't have to go welcome my dad's kids. You can stay back. I'll be back before you know it,” Derek offered and tried to make her lay back down.“It's nothing. I should see them,” she got off the bed, slipping her legs into her flipflops.“Let's go,” she gave Derek a small smile.Derek could only sigh.“How about I carry to downstairs,” he winked at her.Gemma gave him a suspicious glare.“No, I'm good,” she rolled her eyes at him.“If you say so,” Derek shrugged, then winked at her.The couple found their
Walking into the company that day, Gemma could see a lot of prying eyes of employees on her, like every other day. She wasn't surprised as this has been how she lived all her life. Her mother was the chairwoman of the company, her father, the CEO and it was a known fact to everyone that soon, her elder brother James would take over. She has a younger sister who was a supermodel and has been the model for every single one of the company’s products over the years. While she, on the other hand, was the unsuccessful daughter of the family with no stable position in the company. She knew the stares she was receiving wasn't one of admiration, but ridicule. “I wish I could live a jobless life like her without bothering about having a roof over my head, but sadly I don't have rich parents to spend on me,” she heard one of the employees say. It was an obvious attempt to shame her. She could only scoff. What everyone thinks of her, didn't bother her, knowing she has her supportive, rich and
“I only married her to be close to you, since you ain’t ready for marriage. I have no feelings for her.” These were Daniel’s words.Gemma’s eyes flew open at this words, she rose from the floor, her eyes never leaving Daniel’sHas their two years of marriage been a joke to him, the times he professed his unconditional love for her, when he proposed to her, the steamy nights they spent together, have they all been a joke to him?“Daniel, what are you saying?” She stuttered“It's exactly as you heard it. I've never loved you and I would never see myself loving you. Elena holds my heart. You're just a pawn I used to get close to her. I want to spend every single night and day with her. Since she didn't want to get married, I married you to stay right next to her. Now that she is ready to marry me, we should get a divorce,” he shrugged.“We’ve been together for two whole years and now you just want me to believe this?” Gemma asked.“Believe it or not, that's on you. Why do you think I ins
“What are you still doing in bed, Gemma. Have you forgotten today is your wedding day?” Elena’s loud voice woke Gemma from her sleep.She opened her eyes to find herself in her room.“I'm supposed to be at the hospital, I'm supposed to be dead,” she could only mumble and look around her, unable to understand what was going on.“I wonder if the fact that you're getting married to Daniel has altered your brain chemistry, sister,” Elena stared at her, not making any attempt to hide her irritation.Gemma reached for the mirror on her desk and stared at her reflection. “This wasn't the hairstyle I had on yesterday,” she noted.Unless her hairstyle had been changed in her sleep, but by who?The more she stared at herself, she realized she had seen that hair style before, it was from two years ago, when she had long hair, before her mum made her cut it to match Elena's who didn't like the fact that Gemma’s hair was longer than hers.“Mother wants you downstairs in five minutes. The stylist
Leaving the bed was like a chore to Gemma. All she wanted was to lay back there and have a well deserved rest. Her life has been on a roller coaster these past few weeks and to top it all, she was going back to work in just two days. She was going to face her crazy father. “Oh, lord,” she could only mumble. She could feel her head begin to ache, making her sigh.“What's wrong?” Derek asked, approaching her.Gemma shook her head.“Nothing, I'm just tired,” she told him.“You know you don't have to go welcome my dad's kids. You can stay back. I'll be back before you know it,” Derek offered and tried to make her lay back down.“It's nothing. I should see them,” she got off the bed, slipping her legs into her flipflops.“Let's go,” she gave Derek a small smile.Derek could only sigh.“How about I carry to downstairs,” he winked at her.Gemma gave him a suspicious glare.“No, I'm good,” she rolled her eyes at him.“If you say so,” Derek shrugged, then winked at her.The couple found their
“Derek, about the guy you took hostage yesterday,” Gemma tried starting up a conversation with Derek.It was already morning but the events of the previous day was still fresh on her mind.Her words made Derek look at her.“You already know James sent him. Why else are you still keeping him here. You can hand him over to the police and get James too,” Gemma complained, staring at him.“We already spoke about this, Gemma. The police won't be able to do a thing…at least not now,” Derek shrugged.“What do you mean?”“You think a guy like this will easily give out James’ name? You're smarter than this, sweetheart…Just let me handle it my own way,” Derek said, gently patting her hair.“But…” Gemma tried to counter.“Just forget it, Gemma. Besides, James shouldn't just be punished. I just don't want him to end up arrested by the police and then he goes to jail and sort…where he might likely get parole or even escape. I want him gone forever. I want him gone from the surface of this earth.”G
Back at the hospital, Elena sat staring at her phone. She had just called Gemma but then it was as if Gemma didn’t want yo speak with her. Gemma had hung up and now her number isn't reachable. Which only meant one thing, Gemma had turned off her phone to avoid speaking to her.“So much for wanting to be at peace with me,” she mumbled.Seated right beside the bed, Sylvia couldn't help but glare at Elena. Her entire Praters had been for the girl to just die but that didn't happen. Now, she was stuck here, having yo look after her to protect her family.“Mother, Did Gemma say anythinhg while I was unconscious?” She turned in Sylvia's direction.“No, I made her leave. That girl is absolutely horrible. Stay away from her. She means no good…”“Mother,” Elena tried to cut her off, but Sylvia wouldn't let her say a word.“Forget all about the reconciliation and sisters nonsense she talked about. You two can never get along. You’re kind and worlds above her while she is merely beneath your toe
“I think Elena is awake,” Gemma mumbled, showing Derek the caller ID.Derek sighed. He wasn't going to let Gemma step foot out of the house, at least not today.“Let me have the phone, Gemma,” he muttered.Before Gemma could find time to react, he took the phone from her and hung up the call, then proceeded to turn off the phone.“What are you doing?” Gemma was surprised by his actions.“I can't let you go out. At least not today. I need to know what else that darn brother of yours is up to. Until I'm able to figure that out, you'll remain in here!” Derek declared, his eyes never left Gemma as he made these declarations.“Derek…” Gemma tried go argue but he cut her off.“Please, sweetheart,” he held her shoulders and stared right into her eyes“I already lost you once. I can't lose you again. Heavens gave us a second chance to be together. We can't ruin it. We can't mess it up. We have to be together for as long as we can. Just listen to me, please my love. I promise once all this is
The mansion was suddenly alive with chaos. The sharp sound of gunshots echoed. Derek grabbed Gemma’s arm and pulled her deeper into the walk-in closet, shutting the door and grabbing his gun from a hidden compartment in the corner.“Derek!” Gemma yelled out, trying to push the door open and rush out.“Stay in there, Gemma. Do not come out until everything dies down,” Derek ordered her for the first time, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument.Gemma’s heart pounded as he stepped out, locking eyes with her one last time before closing the closet door.The sound of Derek’s footsteps faded into the background of muffled voices and the relentless pounding of her own heartbeat. The entire place was completely quiet for a few seconds, adding to Gemma’s fear. But then all hell broke loose once again. The unmistakable clash of bodies followed by the deafening discharge of another gunshot filled the air. Gemma pressed her hands to her ears, trembling. A loud thud reverberated through the
“Derek!” Gemma's voice squealed as they exited the bathroom. Derek had just grabbed her from behind.“What?” He asked, acting nonchalant and oblivious of where his hands were rested.“Get your hand off me,” Gemma attempted being serious and strict.“Or else what?” Derek raised a brow, adjusting his hands on her butt. “You're shameless,” Gemma could only shake her head, hitting his hand off and heading for the closet.“Whose fault? You turned a holy man like me into something else. You have to bear the consequences," Derek shrugged, following her into the closet. Since it was a walk-in closet, there was more than enough space to contain the two of them as it was practically a huge room on it's own.“Let me cream your body,” Derek offered, leaning against the wall and watching Gemma pick out pajamas. “I can do that myself, you shameless man,” Gemma rolled her eyes.Once she got the pajamas, she tried walking out of the closet but then Derek had other plans.“What if I tie up your hands
As Gemma headed up the stairs with Derek, she could feel the weight of Nora’s words and the relentless back-and-forth they’d just had. Her mind kept replaying the moments she once shared with Nora, back when she thought they’d always support each other. Now, with each step, she felt the growing realization that their friendship had become something that would never be. At least to her, she was never going to have anything to do with Nora. Once they reached their room, Derek closed the door behind them, leaning back against it with a sigh.“Are you okay?” he asked softly.Gemma nodded, though her expression said otherwise. “It’s just… Nora, she…she hurt me,” she stuttered.Derek placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You’ve been through so much just for her. You don’t owe her anything, Gemma. She is my sister, not yours. You're not obliged to have a good relationship with her. If she’s choosing the company’s interests over your well-being, then let her go.”Gemma nodded.“You’re rig
“Is Derek upstairs?” Nora asked, walking into the living room. She had just gotten back from work.Looking at her, she seemed like she was the least person Anna's death affected. Probably because she never had a close relationship with Anna. Derek had always been everyone's favorite child.“He went out with his wife earlier,” Samuel responded, walking right past her.“Where did he go to? I thought he said he won't be leaving the house for a week?” She asked.“Well, you can get the info on his whereabout from him, if you maybe try calling him and stop interrogating me. Excuse me…” Samuel walked away, leaving Nora standing there surprised. This was the first time Samuel talked to her this way.As Samuel walked over to oversee the affairs of the maids, he could only berate himself for letting his emotions take the better part of him.The truth is that he had heard about how Nora took Gemma's position. Yes, he had raised Nora. But Gemma was his grandchild who has been through a lot. Anyone
“Let's leave and come back later,” Derek tapped Gemma's hand.“I'm worried about her,” Gemma mumbled, staring at Elena's figure, much to Derek's surprise.“You want to stay then?” He asked and Gemma nodded.Not saying another word, Derek found a seat at one corner of the room and lowered himself there.“You're worried about someone that tried to ruin your life,” Sylvia was not giving up anytime soon.Gemma didn't spare her a glance and simply focused her eyes on Elena.“This sly little thing got married to an old hag while trying to spite you….”Sylvia's words caught Gemma off guard.“What?”“Well, Elena dearest ended up getting married to a vile old man just to spite you. The old man almost took her away the moment she woke up. But Max was able to stop him.”Staring at Sylvia, Gemma didn't know whether to believe her words or not. Growing up right next to Sylvia, she knew how much the woman could lie. She could tell a perfect lie while maintaining a graceful smile.“Look outside, I'm